Slavery.

'Tis liberty to serve one lord; but he
Who many serves, serves base servility.

Robert Herrick

Robert Herrick was a 17th-century English lyric poet and cleric. He is known for his book of poems, "Hesperides," which includes the carpe diem poem "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." His works are noted for their clarity, simplicity, and musical quality. Herrick was also a vicar of Dean Prior in Devon, despite being ejected during the English Civil War and later reinstated.

Robert Herrick

To His Faithful Friend, M. John Crofts, Cup-Bearer To The King.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

The Bride-Cake

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

The Cheat Of Cupid; Or, The Ungentle Guest

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

To God.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Obedience In Subjects.

The gods to kings the judgment give to sway:
The subjects only glory to obey.

Robert Herrick

To Love.

I'm free from thee; and thou no more shalt hear
My puling pipe to beat against thine ear.
Farewell my shackles, though of pearl they be;
Such precious thraldom ne'er shall fetter me.
He loves his bonds who, when the first are broke,
Submits his neck unto a second yoke.

Robert Herrick

To His Honoured Friend, M. John Weare, Councillor.

Did I or love, or could I others draw
To the indulgence of the rugged law,
The first foundation of that zeal should be
By reading all her paragraphs in thee,
Who dost so fitly with the laws unite,
As if you two were one hermaphrodite.
Nor courts[t] thou her because she's well attended
With wealth, but for those ends she was intended:
Which were, - and still her offices are known, -
Law is to give to ev'ry one his own;
To shore the feeble up against the strong,
To shield the stranger and the poor from wrong.
This was the founder's grave and good intent:
To keep the outcast in his tenement,
To free the orphan from that wolf-like man,
Who is his butcher more than guardian;
To dry the widow's tears, and stop her swoons,
By pouring balm and oil into her...

Robert Herrick

Obedience.

The power of princes rests in the consent
Of only those who are obedient:
Which if away, proud sceptres then will lie
Low, and of thrones the ancient majesty.

Robert Herrick

The Covetous Still Captives.

Let's live with that small pittance that we have;
Who covets more, is evermore a slave.

Robert Herrick

Another Of The Same. (Obedience.)

No man so well a kingdom rules as he
Who hath himself obeyed the sovereignty.

Robert Herrick